Hollow Heart

I have finished the pattern for ‘Hollow Heart’, the heart I shared last week. I know it’s a little late for Valentine’s Day, but it’s still February, so maybe not way too late?

                                                      Hollow Heart finished

I am happy with this heart. The pattern came together easily needing only a few tweaks to get it right. Now is the pattern written right? I hope so.

This is a small, easy pattern compared to the Iris bookmark. I’ve found if I save frequently while working on the pattern and stop if I start to have weird reactions – like not able to change something – to quit while I’m ahead. By saving frequently I don’t lose much and can start again later. The issue is probably with my computer, which I will have looked at as soon as possible. But I basically have to start the pattern over completely. This does not make me happy, but at least I think I can write it out without learning a new program. At least at the moment.

If you are interested in tatting this heart it is on My Patterns page as Hollow Heart.

Today it is crazy cold here with snow and wind. It’s hard to tell how much snow we actually got because it is blowing so bad, but we must have between five and seven inches. I am so blessed that we didn’t have to go anywhere today! The snow is over but the extreme cold will be here tomorrow yet. Today’s high was 2° with a wind chill of -14°, tomorrow morning is going to be much colder. My insulated coveralls are by the door, ready when I need them!

Are you suffering from the cold where you are? Or dealing with flooding? This is quite the winter we are having. Praying you all keep safe!

“The Eskimos had fifty-two names for snow because it was important to them: there ought to be as many for love.” Margaret Atwood

Hearts for Valentine's Day

It’s that time of year, when we look for hearts in candy, jewelry, and patterns. If you are still looking for any, I have several heart patterns on My Patterns page: Joy’s Heart, January Heart, and Luther’s Rose Heart. I’ve made several other hearts as well, but I have not finished the patterns for all of them. I’ve always liked the tatting part more than the writing out part.

And – I’ve done another one.

                                          Hollow Heart

I’m not quite done with this one, the stitch count is not quite right yet. And the pattern isn’t done yet, either.

When I find the correct buttons there is another heart I want to try, Karey Solomon’s Friendship heart with baby buttons. It is in the “Tatting Times” from February 2018.

                                                          Tatting Times #27

Karey was at Tatting Corner’s Tat Days in July 2024. She graciously gave me several of her Tatting Times books. I haven’t taken the time to make any of the patterns yet, but they are on my radar. The heart is calling my name. Now, where did I put those baby buttons? I know I have some!

On a sad note, I’m having trouble with the Iris Cross Bookmark. I almost had it done and my software lost part of it. My computer was giving me grief, so I ran several diagnostics on it, thinking that would fix some of the problems. I re-created the parts of the pattern that was lost, and the program lost more of it. I don’t know if I can repair the software or whether I’ll need to get a new program and learn how to use it. Until I figure that out, new or in-progress patterns are on hold.

Are you doing any hearts for Valentine’s Day?

“I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process.” Vincent Van Gogh

Bookmarks, Old and New

I am back to tatting, though mostly bookmarks. I have had several requests for bookmarks, not anything particular, which means I get to make whatever I want.

                                                  Simple split ring bookmark

I made this simple split-ring bookmark on request from a friend as a gift to one of her friends. Both were happy with the result. I’m glad, because I almost forgot, and this was simple enough that it didn’t take me long. I did get the color right!

                                                      January 2025 bookmark

I was contemplating what I should do for another bookmark, so I started doodling. I’m not too sure about this one, though I’ve started another similar one. I’ve changed the stitch counts and the ring counts but using a top very close to this one. I’ll see if I like it any better.

I recently realized how far behind I am in writing some of my patterns. I was asked for the pattern for the Iris Cross Bookmark. I had previously been asked about this pattern but I never finished it. So, I am back at it. My apologies for those who have been waiting.

                                                     Iris Cross Bookmark 2025

I had been debating what stitch counts I would use for it back in 2023, and I’m still debating. I guess if I’m having trouble deciding what I should make next this is as good as anything.

I was also asked about the Wine Cork Angel Wings, such as thread size, wire size, bead size. I updated the pattern on My Patterns page.

Now, back to the patterns.

“You usually have to wait for that which is worth waiting for.” Craig Bruce

Buttons From 2016

A question was recently posted on my Facebook page about whether the pattern was available for buttons I had made in 2016. I had to do a bit of review on which buttons and if there was a pattern for them. The post was about tatting for International Tatting Day and the decorated buttons I had made to give away. There are actually several posts about them, but I never posted about the patterns.

Buttons from 2016

Most of the buttons from that time were variations of the same pattern. Looking through my patterns I see that I had never posted these buttons. I had written a pattern, which I found after I remade it. As someone asked about these, I have added the pattern on My Patterns page as Buttons From 2016.

I seem to be falling behind on writing out my patterns. There are also at least two patterns that I started writing out that I can’t find where I put them (what file they are in). While looking through older patterns I see where some could be improved. I’ve also got a few that I’ve written out but not shared.

Hmm, I need to get busy! How about you?

“The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more.” Jonas Salk

Looking for Words

Happy New Year! I hope you all are having a good start to 2025. It has started well for me, but I’m having trouble coming up with inspiration to write.

I haven’t done a lot of tatting since the craft show at the beginning of December. We had many things going on to get ready for family get-togethers and a trip leaving me with little time to tat. After a while, I also didn’t have the desire to tat. This happens to me frequently after an intense time of creativity. I suppose my brain needs a rest.

After Christmas, my husband and I visited our daughter in Colorado. She and her kids had made it down for the family day, but couldn’t spend more than a full day before starting back. My husband and I decided to visit them before the new year. It was a wonderful visit! We spent most of the weekend playing games with the whole family. We also took a day trip with the grandkids to Estes Park and the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park.

      With the grandkids at RMNP

I did get a bit of tatting done on the drive back and forth to Colorado. Not much, but at least a shuttle was used.

Last of 2024 tatting

While we were gone my order from Tatting Corning came, which was thread I had ordered on Lisa’s 12 Days of Christmas sale. Maybe one of them will be inspiration to tat.

12 Days of Christmas order

Considering the weather here, I should have plenty of time to tat. We started getting icy rain at about 6:00 a.m. today, and it is supposed to continue through the night. Tomorrow it is supposed to snow all day. What better way to spend the time, right?

While we are stuck at home I should probably start taking down the Christmas things, though I’m not really ready to. They all make the house a little brighter. They also remind me of the memories made with them. This year I gave ornaments to my granddaughter and told her to decorate the tree. These ornaments included a stack of tatting, some of which I had just made, including wings for wine ornament angels. She thought the wings made wonderful decorations for the tree.

Angel wings on the tree

While I was busy tatting for the craft show I could think of so many things I wanted to work on besides the Christmas items. Did I write them down? No. Can I remember them now? No. I’ll start something soon, and maybe come up with what I should have written down.

What have you started your new year with?

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.” Neil Gaiman